Healthy Habits: Dr. Luis Rustveld keeps fitness simple
Taking care of your health is a priority and nobody knows that more than physicians and healthcare providers. 
It can sometimes be difficult to find ways to stay healthy, so we’ve asked members of our Baylor College of Medicine community to share what they do in their daily lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Luis Rustveld, a registered dietitian and assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at Baylor, shares some of his healthy habits with us.
Q: What health decisions start your day?
A: How many minutes of running I will get in this morning and what I am having for breakfast.
Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: Oatmeal with skim milk, and scrambled egg whites with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and a little Parmesan cheese.
Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: Running.
Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: I listen to music.
Q: What activities do you do when you can’t fit in a full workout?
A: I take the path of most resistance throughout my work day (take the stairs, use half of my lunch break time to walk in the parking lot, park farther away from the grocery store entrance, aim for at least 10,000 steps per day).
Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: Baby carrots and hummus.
Q: Do you take vitamins and if so, which ones?
A: I take no vitamins because I make sure to eat healthy. The best source of vitamins comes from the foods we eat.
Q: How do you make an unhealthy recipe healthy (healthy substitutions)?
A: Applesauce or prune puree for half of the called-for butter; use three times as many vegetables as the meat on pizzas or in casseroles, soups and stews; instead of salt use lemon pepper, herbs and spices.
Q: Do you use a pedometer or Fitbit and what is your daily step goal?
A: Yes – goal is at least 10,000 steps daily.
Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: You do not need to join a gym or eat expensive organic foods to be healthy—keep it simple. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity four to five times per week and watch food portions (1/2 plate veggies and fruit, 1/4 of plate lean proteins, and 1/4 starches).
Additional Resources
Dietitian Kristi King reads, hikes to stay fit
How Dr. Philip Alapat keeps fitness fun
See how Baylor stays fit with more healthy habits from members of our community
See how Baylor promotes a culture of healthy living and wellness
